linkingup | a winter labyrinth

a winter labyrinth

断ち切るしかないんだろ
注いだ冬は心のラビリンス
後戻りなんて出来ないから
やりきるしかないんだろ
黒い気持ちと手を繋いだって構わない
抱きしめたっていいh

I have to break free
This pouring winter is my heart's labyrinth
I can't go back anymore, so
I have to finish this
I don't care if you took my hand with dark motives
I want you to hold me close

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Haruka's attraction to me is strong enough that he'll forget how to function as a person at times. [Dropping the embarrassing Haruka lore here, as he picks himself up and dusts himself off, even taking the pilfered jacket off of his shoulders to shake it.] But first I need to know if he's actually paying attention, and if the Shadow shares that same attraction.

[He needs a few signs first, and not some damn traps.]

Hence, onward we go.

[There's something completely unimpressed in Schneider's expression but she appreciates his confident. Nodding in understanding]

Thinking that you could bait him with a bit of skin then?

[ And onward they go!]

It's already baited him before.

[It's going to work again! He's sure of it.

And as they walk, he catches more of the music, and attempts to hum along. Keyword being attempt.]

[...SIR]

I thought you could sing.

An unfamiliar tune such as this? I may have been trained as a performer like Haruka, but not in the same genres and styles. Give me a moment to learn it, hm?

Do you think butchering his songs would lure him out?

[Hilarious if so.]

Or beating him at his own profession?

We shall have to see about that. My actions also depend on the circumstances-- if succeeding in a performance is required to leave this maze, I will have to give it my all.

[But! Are they close to the source of the music? Is it growing stronger?]

[The music is getting louder and louder, leading Shalem and Schneider to another set of doors. Just the one—a set of plain double doors, with nowhere else to go.

They've made it to the end of the maze.

They can either pass through the set of doors, or continuing exploring the maze if they want!]

[Shalem looks over his shoulder at Schneider, giving her a quick nod, before he puts his hands on the doors to push them open. If there's one thing he appreciates about her, she's all business, and not at all phased by anything.]

[The doors open, leading them into a backstage area. There's music coming from the stage itself, and hazy, shadowy figures in the area.

Most of them look like they've taken the form of staff, helping to make the concert(?) run smoothly. They haven't noticed Shalem, yet.]

[Shalem just sidles right on in, straightening his clothes so he doesn't look like he's been running around or lying in the dirt. He's still following the music, his main priority. Ah, music, his first love.

The music Haruka specializes in may be contemporary, but that doesn't change the fact that they're both performers.]

[None of the shadows try to stop him as he walks around, because he's supposed to be there, after all. He has that ticket, still!

He can manage a glance at the stage, but it's currently... empty, with no sign of any performers, much less Haruka.

Is he going to try to walk out onto the stage?]

[Look, if you're making music but there's nothing on stage, it's clearly a trap, right?

A trap that Shalem is bold enough to challenge. He's getting on stage. If he can get Haruka's attention this way, yes, he absolutely will do something wild.]

[ Schneider hangs back. Hmmm. Looking around to see if she can spot any traps (14) if that is even possible]

[No traps! Not that she can see, at least. It just seems like... your normal backstage area, and by now she's familiar with the level of technology in the city. Nothing seems out of place, not even the shadows milling around.]

[Shalem approaching the stage gets the shadows to panic!]

Sir! What are you doing?

[One of them steps in front of him, trying to block him from the stage.]

[He gives a bright, guileless smile, the one of a younger man.]

Don't worry! I'm just checking out the stage-- this is where we'll be performing, right?

[sir that's sus]

...It is. You've already done your soundcheck, haven't you?

[The shadow is sizing him up...]

[Well since there are no traps she can see, she'll look around for something else to do. She can sing...because fucking church life...but instruments are a no go for her.

Can she turn on the lights lol]

Edited 2024-10-14 02:54 (UTC)

[If she can find the light controls she can certainly try!

...If the shadows don't notice her sneaking around, at least.]

[Well, Shalem notes she's trying something, so he'll try to distract the shadows. Hence, he moves towards the stage again.]

I haven't actually done my soundcheck. I only just arrived, you know.

Edited 2024-10-14 03:04 (UTC)

[Well... the shadow believes him (2...), and sighs.]

Okay, but... where's the rest of your group?

[But it's acquiescing, even if the shadows will now be on higher alert.]

You'll have five minutes for your soundcheck.

[IT'S TIME.

Shalem gives the shadow a nod, before he gets up on stage. But he doesn't take a soundcheck-- no, he does something else. He quickly picks a slower, softer song from the playlist on the system, one suited for his preferences, and starts to shed some of his layers. Katana, his regular jacket, the pilfered jacket, shoes, socks, even his shirt, baring scarred skin stretched over large muscles, and a scattering of small black crystals growing out of his chest and the left side of his neck.

Then he stands at a corner of the stage, feet comfortable due to the lights Schneider turned on warming the stage.]

Haruka, I hope you're watching, else I make a fool of myself for nothing.

[Then he begins.

As a stage performer, Shalem doesn't merely dance, but acts. He is a body on stage, a role to be performed, a doll waiting for a script-- and right now, the lyrics are his script. Every move, jete, pirouette, prance and even drop has weight behind it, and his tail doesn't flail around, it curves and curls with him. His expression is anguished, pained, whatever the song requires of him.

When it's over, he's flushed and winded, his feet are sore without any padding and he's sure he's developing new callouses, he hasn't danced this hard in so long, even if ballet is one of his best styles. But he forces himself to finish properly, standing straight and holding his arms up, feet together as if awaiting the clapping of his audience. He holds it for just a few seconds, then slinks off to get dressed again.

The shadow gave him five minutes. He finishes in four.

Hopefully Shadow Haruka likes this offering. (19)]

Edited 2024-10-14 05:29 (UTC)

(no subject)

townmusician - 2024-10-14 06:18 (UTC) - Expand

[ She's sneaking around (16) and grabs the first switch she can reach to flick it on . Hopefully this gives Shalem an opening to do whatever he needs to do. Or it'll unleash a trap. whomp whomp]

[She flips the switch, and immediately she can hear shouting from the shadows. Where she is, she won't be able to see what she's done, but Shalem will find himself absolutely blinded as every light pointed towards the stage turns in.]

Hey, what are you doing?!

[There are shadows approaching, though they don't move to attack her. Yet.]